Solana has kicked off 2025 with a bang, recording a monthly DEX volume dominance of 36% in just the first nine days of January—an all-time high for the blockchain.

As Solana continues to lead the DeFi market, traders and whales alike are making waves with high-stakes transactions.

Trader Loses $298K in “ai deborah” Flip  

In one dramatic trade, a user paid a hefty priority fee of 1,068 SOL (worth $208,600) to secure the first purchase of “ai deborah” tokens. The trader used 500 SOL ($97,000) to acquire 174 million tokens. However, just three minutes later, they sold their entire position, managing to recover only 40 SOL ($7,700). This rapid trade resulted in a staggering loss of 1,528 SOL, equivalent to $298,000, in mere minutes.

Whale Cashes Out $4.63M Profit from SOL Staking  

Meanwhile, a Solana whale transferred 80,000 SOL ($15.56 million) to Coinbase Prime five hours ago, marking the culmination of a profitable staking strategy. The whale had withdrawn 87,000 SOL ($12.81 million) from Coinbase Prime six months ago at a price of $147 per token, staking the tokens

Following SOL’s price appreciation to an average of $194, the whale moved their holdings to Binance and Coinbase Prime, realizing a $4.63 million profit (+36%) through both staking rewards and the token’s value growth.  

Conclusion

Solana’s DeFi dominance and high-profile transactions underscore its growing influence in the crypto space. While some traders face losses in speculative moves, others, like this whale, showcase the potential of strategic staking and timing in maximizing profits.

Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.

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